However I'd trust a Dunlop MX51 to hold a line better on asphalt. I've tried dialing the air pressure in, no difference, just starts to let go at different times. Feels like I'm on hard packed snow.

I've recently started riding my 450X back and forth to work, up a mountain canyon about 17 miles one way. Cornering is sketchy at the moment to say the least. Then there's about a half mile strip of grooved concrete that I have to ride as well. The knobby is completely unpredictable on that crap. Wants to ride the grooves and feels like I'm about to start tank slapping @ 55 MPH with cars right behind me.. (not confidence inspiring)

I'm still a dirt fiend though, I'm in the woods every week with this bike without fail.

My question is; What's going to be a tire worth a shit to me? I am really not concerned with tire wear, I don't need a "durable" tire. I need a true DS tire, that can handle blasting through the woods and sticking a line in the granite pebbles in Rampart, and I need it to hold a line on the street without feeling like I've got a flat tire in the turns.

I fought the same thing for a while. After many tires, uneasy feeling on dirt and/or street I purchased a set of rims and mounted Good street tires on them. Same sprocket size. Would swap wheel sets when I wanted to hit the dirt and visa versa. In the long run, it was a lot cheaper and the riding was much better. Great tires for dirt, great tires for street. Used rims are not hard to find at a great price.

I fought the same thing for a while. After many tires, uneasy feeling on dirt and/or street I purchased a set of rims and mounted Good street tires on them. Same sprocket size. Would swap wheel sets when I wanted to hit the dirt and visa versa. In the long run, it was a lot cheaper and the riding was much better. Great tires for dirt, great tires for street. Used rims are not hard to find at a great price.

Exactly what I did for my CRF450X - two sets of wheels which I can swap in 15 minutes

I have a vulcanduro on the front of my 650r right now and hate it for the same reason, I just put a Pirrelli XCMH on my KTM last weekend and really haven't had it on the roadyet but it is a true knobby with a DOT rating, I does seem confidence inspiring on the trail.

However I'd trust a Dunlop MX51 to hold a line better on asphalt. I've tried dialing the air pressure in, no difference, just starts to let go at different times. Feels like I'm on hard packed snow.

Do you have the VE-35 front? If so the knobbies are very tall and so soft you are feeling them lay over in corners or under braking. A VE-39 will feel like the 35 in dirt, but would work much better for some pavement riding. Just make sure you break the tire in. it will be slick for the first 100 miles or so till it is scrubbed in.

Look for any intermediate-hard terrain front knobbie, with a standard waffle pattern with knobs that are not too tall, it will be the best compromise between "ridable" (relative term) on the pavement and still being decent on the dirt. You will never be pushing hard in the asphalt corners though with a knobbie, and likewise you will never be pushing hard with a DOT tire in the dirt............